Salmon River Update 07 April 2016
Water releases have been at 750 cfs with moderate run-off. Temps here reached the high 50’s for a few hours last week and then we were hit by a significant cold front with scattered snow. Monday night temps plunged to 12 degrees and a new low since 1942. The cold front plus the raise in the flow from 500 to 750 cfs slowed spawning. Water Temps remain in the high 30’s and holding. Drop-Backs were found scattered throughout the river. Douglaston Salmon Run reports some Drop-Backs being caught.
Fishermen who stay on the water are being rewarded. The 10 day forecast shows a warming trend. It will only take a couple of degrees of warmer water for the fish to begin spawning again. The Altmar Hatchery has opened the gates to release the steelhead in their ponds but the fish are holding and should start their journey down river as soon as water temps bump up.